I recently realized that my use of Agile Games for learning and doing work is part of something much more profound: play. This is one way to support the creation of high-performance teams and companies. When work is play, people are engaged and businesses get great results.

Stuart Brown shares an insightful quote:

The opposite of play is not work, it’s depression.

In the following TedX video, Stuart Brown explains the importance of play.

Key Take-Aways

Lot’s of great science on the importance of play for learning and development.

Play is hard-wired into our brains (stories of Polar Bear with Husky and Mother with infant)

Use of play skills in children is critical for adult development of problem solving skills. In particular, play involving hands is key.